Cheltenham November Meeting 2025: PaddyPower Gold Cup analysis and preview 

The 2025 Cheltenham November meeting is almost upon us and with it comes the running of one of the biggest Handicap Chases of the season – the PaddyPower Gold Cup. 

It highlights three days of prestigious racing action in the Gloucestershire hills and is often a stepping-stone to elite success. 

Sixteen fences and 2.5 miles of Cheltenham’s Old Course is what stands between runners and the shadows of Cheltenham’s iconic winning post. 

This year’s renewal has been blown wide-open after it was confirmed that Caldwell Potter would miss the season after suffering an injury. 

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Disappointment for Caldwell Potter

His trainer, Paul Nicholls, posted on X: “It’s with great disappointment that I’m informing everyone that after Caldwell Potter’s gallop at Newbury – on Monday – he sustained a small injury, which after consultation with vets and his owners, will mean he misses the rest of this season.

“Obviously it’s a big blow for everyone involved with him but he will be back.”

A two-time Grade One winner last season, Caldwell Potter was one of three possible Nicholls-trained runners at the forefront of the market. 

Hitman

Il Rodoto is shorter priced of the two, whilst Hitman – a Grade Two winner this season on his reappearance – is out at 16/1.

The former is the (5/1) second-favourite and is looking to make it back-to-back successes in a race that he has never finished outside the first four, from four attempts. 

However, last year’s victory was the last time that the eight-year-old got his head in front at the winning post, and he has since finished sixth, eighth, 12th and seventh – at Cheltenham.

His comeback run was far more encouraging, finishing second in a Grade Two Chase – at Chepstow – behind an odds-on favourite. 

Jagwar

Jagwar heads the market, as the runners go in search of the top share of £160,000 in awarded prize money. 

Running in the colours of renowned owner JP McManus, the six-year-old gelding is looking to make it three consecutive wins and a hat-trick of wins at this course. 

He has been off the track since winning at last season’s Cheltenham Festival – a win that came at the expense of Thecompanysargeant, who is also in the betting for this race – Jagwar was 12th. 

Last year’s runner-up has finished outside the places on three subsequent starts, all of which came in Ireland, with the latter two in Grade Three races at a longer trip than he will encounter here. 

He will run for trainer Gavin Cromwell for only the sixth time since moving from Denis Hogan’s yard last November. 

Panic Attack

The eight-year-old is one of two horses priced at 10/1 to win this race, accompanied by the shorter-priced of two fancied runners for trainer Dan Skelton – Panic Attack. 

Since moving to Skelton’s yard from David Pipe – where he was a Class One Handicap winner (at Cheltenham) – Panic Attack is yet to finish outside the places. 

Two third-placed efforts – at Ludlow and Newbury – preceded a win at Windsor and a second-placed effort at Warwick, where he was last seen in February. 

His stable-mate Riskinthegroundm, who won his latest start (a Class Two Handicap Chase), is the lesser fancied Skelton runner, priced at 16/1. 

Coming Up Easy

Coming Up Easy is set to lead the Irish Challenge in this race for trainer Henry De Bromhead. 

He is undefeated in his last three starts, the latest of which came in August after a break since April, and is due to have his first run outside of Ireland later this month. 

The seven-year-old is one of three horses priced at 12/1 to win the PaddyPower Gold Cup, alongside Gidleigh Park and The Jukebox Man. 

The former had been undefeated in four career starts until placing sixth at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival – and he has since bounced back from being pulled up on his subsequent outing with a Grade Two win over Caldwell Potter. 

That victory preceded a credible second-placed effort – behind Impaire Et Passe – in the second Grade One race of his career. 

The Jukebox Man

Meanwhile, The Jukebox Man never seems to run a bad race for trainer Ben Pauling and owner Harry Redknapp. 

He has finished inside the first three in all of his 10 career starts, winning six times – including his maiden Grade One, on his latest start.

That win came in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, on Boxing Day, and followed a Grade Two win – at Newbury – as well as three consecutive placed efforts in Grade One hurdle races (two seconds and a third), one of which came at Cheltenham. 

Conyers Hill

Conyers Hill is another horse that is set to make the journey across the Irish Sea for the first time since finishing sixth at the Cheltenham Festival. 

He trades at 16/1 – alongside Vicenzo and Master Chewy – having finished second on his two subsequent starts. 

Ginny’s Destiny is also worthy of a mention, as the nine-year-old is set to be trainer Nicky Henderson’s sole representative in the contest. 

READ MORE: Cheltenham November Meeting 2025: Dates, how to watch on TV, trainers and jockey to watch